Climate change has evolved into an almost all-encompassing issue of this generation. What had begun in the realm of the physical sciences has now proved more complex than initially anticipated, and to be inherently tied to human lifestyles and decision-making.

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a core priority of WMO and one of the four priorities areas to be addressed by the Global Framework for Climate Services. An analysis of 1970-2009 EM-DAT1 data reveals 7 870, reported disasters from climate, hydro and meteorological hazards, leading to the loss of 1.86 million lives and causing economic damages amounting to US$ 1.954 trillion (adjusted to 2011 US$ prices).

Pabna, Bangladesh, 2010. The nongovernmental organization Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha runs a fleet of more than 50 floating schools and libraries in an effort to provide basic education in a severely...

By WMO Secretariat 1 Vladimir Ryabinin of the Russian Federation was appointed as the new Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO at the level of Assistant...

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) adopted on 18 March is the first major agreement of the 2015 agenda. Its seven global targets and four priorities for action are highly relevant to WMO. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is one of the seven priority areas of the Organization. Protecting lives, livelihoods and property is at the core of its mission – thus, WMO will support the Sendai Framework through a wide range of scientific and technical activities.

Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are extremely vulnerable to hydro-meteorological hazards. In the coming years, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and severity...